Stepping Up for the Needs of Others

Stepping Up for the Needs of Others

By Rhonda Jones

When I met the three gentlemen who are currently doing transportation for veterans in Eddy and Lea counties, I was impressed with their genuine concern for others.

The three, Norbert Rimpe, Armando Luna, and Hiram “Hy” Laird, are all veterans and want to give back to fellow veterans who are unable to get themselves to doctor appointments or even to the airport. They do not drive just for medical appointments; they also want to help their fellow vets get to other necessary appointments.

They do not ask for money, but they welcome donations when received. They know that some of their fellow veterans cannot pay for rides, and that is ok with them. They want to help the veterans and their spouses as well.

All three started as volunteer drivers for the Southeast New Mexico Veterans Transportation Network, which is a non-profit based in Roswell where all drivers are volunteers. However, after a while, they all felt that Eddy County needed more service and Lea County had no transportation service at all, so they decided to work together to help vets in Eddy and Lea counties get to appointments.

They drive their vehicles but can also drive the veteran’s vehicle if that works better. When asked where they can transport, they made no limitations. They will take the veteran wherever they need to go. Those areas are usually in Artesia, Alamogordo, Hobbs, or Big Spring, but they sometimes need to transport to Lubbock or Albuquerque. Their goal is to get the veteran to their appointment in a timely and comfortable manner.

Norbert, Armando, and Hy are all retired from previous jobs, with Hy working for Mosaic and retiring after 38 years. Armando worked in the iron industry in Los Angeles for 15 years until a job injury cut his career short. Armando grew up in Carlsbad and came back to visit after his injury. He then decided to stay here, worked at Lowe’s for a while, and eventually retired.

All three came out of retirement and volunteered to drive veterans to appointments after they realized there was a need for drivers, and this was a great way to help their fellow vets.

“I want the veterans that I transport to know that they are safe, honored, and respected,” Armando told me, with Hy reiterating that, “we are all brothers of different mothers.” All three truly love what they do for the veterans and for the community.

Any veteran in need of transportation should call: Norbert at 575-361-0175, Armando at 575-363-8434, or Hy at 575-689-5763. They will be happy to work with veterans and spouses to get to appointments safely.

There is also a need for more volunteers, so anyone who would like to drive and would love to help a vet should call Norbert, Armando, or Hy. The payment these volunteers will receive will be the satisfaction of helping others and working with three really great, compassionate guys.